Zaragoza: The mayor of Zaragoza has invited Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o to visit the Spanish city with his family in order to prove that the citizens there are not racist. The Cameroon striker tried to leave the pitch last month after Real Zaragoza fans directed racist abuse at the player during a Primera Liga match. "I wasn't at the game but I heard it on the radio and was ashamed. I was so outraged I decided to do something," Mayor Juan Alberto Belloch said.
Munich stadium: Munich's new Allianz Arena, which will host the opening match of the World Cup on June 9, is in need of repairs after a bearing in a joint between two concrete slabs was damaged, a spokesman for the stadium said. Scaffolding was put up to support the ceiling at a promenade of the stadium after the damage was found and repairs would start between the next two Bundesliga games, spokesman Werner Goetz said yesterday.
Chelsea appeal: Chelsea have appealed against Dutch winger Arjen Robben's sending-off against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, the English FA said. Robben was red-carded by referee Mike Halsey for a clumsy two-footed lunge at West Brom's Jonathan Greening. Halsey's decision enraged Chelsea's players who protested by surrounding the referee. The FA said Robben's appeal will be heard today. Champions Chelsea won an ill-tempered clash 2-1.
Luxemburgo: Santos went five points clear at the top of the Paulista championship on Sunday after beating Palmeiras 1-0 in a game billed as a grudge match between coaches Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Emerson Leao. Leo Lima converted a controversial penalty in the 86th minute to give Santos victory. The two coaches, regarded as two of Brazil's best, fell out in 2004 when Leao was sacked as Santos coach and replaced by Luxemburgo. Leao later accused Luxemburgo - who returned to Santos in December after being fired by Real Madrid - of plotting to have him removed.
Heart Tests: FIFA's chief medical officer said yesterday that all World Cup players will undergo extensive new pre-tournament cardiovascular tests but any decision to sideline anyone rests solely with the teams. Jiri Dvorak told a news conference after meetings with the medical directors of all 32 teams coming to Germany for the June 9-July 9 tournament that FIFA wants to increase awareness and prevention of ailments that can lead to severe injury or death. He said FIFA, which hopes the test will help prevent cardiac arrest or even death as happened in the 2003 Confederations Cup, will not publish any of the health warnings or medical details on any player because of doctor-patient confidentiality rules.
In Italy: Serie B - Catania vs Mantova 3-0. Serie C1 - Salernitana vs Padova 1-1.